Mate rino Iron overload (haemochromatosis)
Iron is a mineral your body needs to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your body. It is also needed for your muscles and for healthy hair, skin and nails. Iron also helps with brain functioning. Iron overload occurs if too much iron builds up in your body.
Causes of iron overload
There are 2 types of iron overload — primary haemochromatosis and secondary (acquired) haemochromatosis.
Primary haemochromatosis
Primary haemochromatosis is the most common form. It is passed down through families through an abnormal gene. This abnormal gene is very common, with 1 in 12 people having it. You only get the disease if you have a copy of the abnormal gene from both your parents.
It causes problems affecting:
- iron absorption from the intestine
- iron levels in the blood and body tissues.
All age groups can get haemochromatosis, but it is most commonly found in men between the ages of 30 and 50. It does not tend to produce symptoms in women until they are over 60.
Secondary (acquired) haemochromatosis
Secondary (acquired) haemochromatosis is caused:
- by other conditions, such as thalassaemia, or some types of anaemia)
- as a result of multiple blood transfusions or long-term alcoholism.
Symptoms of iron overload
Symptoms of iron overload can include:
- lack of energy
- fatigue
- weakness
- joint pain
- generalised darkening of skin colour (often referred to as bronzing)
- reduced sex drive
- weight loss.
If left undetected, iron builds up in organs and body tissues. Over time, this can lead to:
- diabetes
- liver cirrhosis
- heart disease
- liver cancer in those with iron overload, and cirrhosis.
Diagnosing iron overload
If you think you may have symptoms, see your healthcare provider for a blood test. The main test is an iron saturation test or a raised serum ferritin level.
Sometimes you will need other tests such as:
- blood sugar (glucose) level
- liver function tests
- echocardiogram to examine your heart's function
- ECG (electrocardiogram) to look at your heart's electrical activity
- liver or abdominal ultrasound.
If you have a sibling with haemochromatosis, talk to your healthcare provider about genetic testing. A blood test can confirm if you have the haemochromatosis genes. You have a 1 in 4 risk of having the disease and a 50/50 chance of being a carrier (able to pass the gene on to your own tamariki).
Treating iron overload
The key goal of treatment for haemochromatosis is to remove excess iron from your body and treat any organ damage. The simple way to do this is by giving blood regularly. This is also known as venesection.
To start with, you may need to do this once a week until the iron levels and iron stores in your body are back to normal. This procedure can then be done less often, depending on how much iron is in the food you eat and how your body responds.
Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand has a useful record book to help you track your haemoglobin and iron levels.
Haemochromatosis — Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (external link)
Self-care for iron overload
If you have iron overload, just changing the foods you eat may not be enough to reduce your iron stores. But you can try the following suggestions.
- Reduce the iron in your diet by not eating foods fortified with iron, such as some cereals.
- Cut back on red meat.
- Limit alcohol to reduce further stress on your liver.
- Do not take iron pills, multivitamins or supplements containing iron.
- Avoid raw seafood — cooked is fine.